SO,I'M A NIGHT-OWL. DOES THAT MAKE ME A
FEATHER- HEAD?

Welcome to my Garden.Here is the beauty of my world,in microcosm. It is filled with plants, flowers,animals,birds and persons who are so important to me,that all together, fill me with delight,every day.

MUSICAL TREATS-

"WHERE NO ONE STANDS ALONE "JIMMY SWAGGART: THERE IS ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOUDONE BY JIM RECORDS, 2006, THIS IS JIMMY'S NEWEST CD, WITH JIMMY ON THE VOCALS, AND THE PIANO, BACKED UP BY THE SILKY VOICES OF THE CRUSADE TEAM,AND FULL MUSICAL ACCOMPANYMENT, WITH JIMMY'S UNPARALLELED ARRANGEMENTS, TRULY AN OUTSTANDING TIME OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP,AND A COMFORT TO THE SOUL. (*****)

IT'S LUCKY WE METJANET PASCHAL: BILL GAITHER AND GLORIA: GOD BLESS AMERICAGAITHER GOSPEL SERIES LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL
WITH THEIR HOMECOMING FRIENDS-GET USED TO BEING HAPPY! (*****)

"UNBREAK MY HEART"IL DIVO: IL DIVO A NEW GROUP JUST INTRODUCED ON OPRAH AND THE TONIGHT SHOW, PUT TOGETHER BY SIMON C.
FROM AMERICAN IDOL...FOUR YOUNG MEN, ALL FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DOING HIP SONGS IN AN OPERATIC STYLE! A MUST HAVE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE MUSIC! YUMMY! SONG IN ITALIAN, OR SPANISH, OR ONE OF THOSE ROMANCE LANGUAGES...WHATEVER IT IS, IT WORKS FOR ME! (*****)

MOONLIGHT SONATABEETHOVEN: PIANO SOLOSSERENE, RESTFUL, AND BEAUTIFUL CLASSICAL MUSIC
TRY THIS IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WITH A GOOD BOOK
AND A GLASS OF WINE. REFLECTIVE.
HAS A WAY OF CALMING KIDS DOWN. (*****)

RHAPSODY IN BLUEGEORGE GERSHWIN: FANTASIA II; DISNEY ALSO AVAILABLE JUST UNDER IT'S OWN NAME,
ON CD OR CASSETTE. SYMPHONIC JAZZ.
GEORGOUS! (*****)

WORD LOVES

T.H. WHITE: "THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING"This is THE BOOK, without which no home library of good fiction is complete! The foundation for the complete Aruthurian ledgend, upon which was based "The sword in the Stone", "Camelot",as well as "Merlin!" There is even speculation of it being an allegory of Christ.A book you will read, and re-read for years to come! It is beautiful, romantic,realistic to the times,and even screamingly funny in places! (*****)

Barbra D'amato: Of course you know that chocolate is a vegetable!Anthology of murder mysteries! Funny, clever and so well written. If you love chocolate, you will drool over the title story! (*****)

VIRGINIA WOOLF edited by Susan Dick: THE Complete Shorter Fiction Of Virginia Woolf A book that follows Virginia Woolf's art of lyrical prose developement...encounter continuous delights for the mind! Be stirred by the color and vapours of Kew Gardens,sweet, magical pictures her words will create in your mind! (*****)

WARREN MURPHY & RICHARD SAPIR: THE DESTROYER SERIES FROM #1 TO THE 64TH, (WHICH IS ONLY AS FAR AS I HAVE GOTTEN IN MY COLLECTION) THIS MARTIAL ARTS SERIES HAS GOT IT ALL.REMO WILLIAMS IS A WISE-CRACKING "DEAD" COP, AND HIS MENTOR IS THE FRAGILE LOOKING CHIUN, MASTER OF SINANJU,
TOGETHER THEY COMPRISE THE KILLING ARM OF A BRANCH OF THE US GOVERNMENT THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

NORA LAM AND RICHARD SCHNIEDER: CHINA CRY: THE NORA LAM STORYTHE TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN WHO FOUND THE COURAGE TO LOVE AND THE STRENGTH TO SURVIVE AGAINST ALL ODDS. (*****)

This is going to be short, since I am down with the flu.But, I just had to tune in while I slurped down my jello and tea, while the NewYork countdown happened, and I was glad that Dick made it to be there this year, but sadly, it sure didn't sound like the old Dick.If I drank, I would be lifting a glass to his health this New Years,and hoping for a full recovery, for the world's oldest teenager.He's a great guy,and has proven himself to be a real trooper. Here's to you Dick!

Does that mean that you are the actual, leadership and spiritual head of the family, or just the titular head? This may come as a shock, but there is a difference. Are you the head of the family because your are a man, and therefore feel entitled to the position, or are you an actual head of the family, meaning you are someone your wife and children can depend on when the going gets tough, to be there, and take a leadership role? Do you lend a hand in all aspects of the family life, or just come home from work, grab a beer and fall into your chair until dinner is announced? Naturally, I am assuming that you work for a living, to bring in money to support your family, but what else do you do? If you say, that is all, and isn't that enough, the answer is no. The needs of a family are so involved and diverse that it takes two adults to care for a family properly.If you would be the true head of the family, you not only must bring in money to support needs such as shelter, food, clothing, utilities and medical coverage, but also to be emotionally ready to comfort and teach your children, and to help your wife to bear the stress and strain of everyday responsibilities in dealing with the children.Then, of course, there are her emotional needs,which you are to full fill, while at the same time, she fulfills yours.It's really rather exciting to watch your relationship grow under those circumstances, for while she focuses on you, and you focus on her, you can grow together.But take care. Trouble comes when you take your eyes off each other, and start focusing on self. That is when discontentment and unhappiness comes in.When you begin thinking thoughts like" what about me? ", You've lost your center. Most importantly, the man of the family is the one who is intended to be the spiritual head of the family. Not like some heavy-handed dictator,ruler, or preacher, but as guide into the truths of the Kingdom of heaven, praying with his wife and children, in humility, having compassion and love for each one, and praying the Lord's blessings on his wife and children, daily.For true family unity, the secret is, while you are focusing on the wife, and she on you, you both focus on the children, and(here's the tricky part) the whole family focuses on God, because YOU draw them into the presence of the Lord every day. It is the man, taking time to be with them in studying the word of God, and being there, fully clothed in the whole armor of God, ready to defend his wife and children from the not only physical, but spiritual attacks that shall surely come their way,and Christ-like, being ready to lay down his life for them, should the need arise.For, as scripture says, Husbands, love your wives, as Jesus Christ loved the church! He must be gentle, loving, kind, thoughtful, willing to do his part, in any capacity for the betterment of his family, no holds barred.Grimly determined to keep his vows, and tenderhearted enough to forgive his family their shortcomings, without meanness or violence.And not so prideful he feels it necessary to beat his wife or children over the head with the bible to get their attention or cooperation.

Now, that is the definition of the Head of the house, the Head of the family! My hat is off, and I give total respect to any man who fills that position.

So, what say you, sir? Are you ready to step up to the plate and be a family man? Think carefully before you say yes, for once you have taken on the job, it's forever. You can't quit in the middle and take off for parts unknown! Once you are a father, you will always be a father, whether you fulfill your part of the bargain or not.

Oh, yes, we have seen many men run out on the family.In a moment of romantic zeal, they drop to one knee, and ask a woman to marry them, and then along come children, and before they know it, they are overwhelmed with the enormity of the job.And, rather than do the work, and look to God for strength, they bail out. I won't pretend we haven't seen any heads of house do that. But then, once they have done that, they aren't the head of the house anymore, are they? No, they are just another deadbeat dad,and we are seeing all to clearly what sort of messed up society is created when the father is not there to take his rightful place, to fill his role in the family he helped to create. And it's such a shame, because God promised never to put more on us that we can bear.And, only to think. All any of those fathers who ran out had to do, was to ask, and they would have found a way to be the man God intended them to be.Not the man of the family in name only, or absentee, but the real, true man of the family. An honorable position! A man any son could look up to, and admire!

If you have ever come out of a movie theater, blinking and looking around as though you've just returned from another world, or put down a book, after turning the last page with a sense of awe, then you know how I am feeling at this moment. I've just finished" Memoirs of a Geisha" the book by Arthur Golden. It was first printed in 1997, but I don't get around to the Library as much as I used to, so I had no idea this work existed until I began to see the trailers on other movies and television. Just from that, I was intrigued and wanted to see the film, but I prefer to read the book first, so I put in a special request for it from our local library. They didn't have a copy available, but I belong to a system that will find what you want and then calls you when they have it, so you can go pick it up.It took them three days to find it, and it took me another two days to find someone who would actually bring it to me.It's a large, hard-bound tome, of exactly 428 pages,and frankly when I saw it, I was a bit dismayed. Gone are the days when I can sit for hours holding a big heavy book, no matter how engrossing the text.By and large, paperbacks are more my speed, because it doesn't hurt my hands and arms to hold them while propped up in bed to read myself to sleep.So, the first couple of days I had this book, I was able to read perhaps a paragraph or two before I succumbed to the arms of Morpheus. But then, it got interesting to the point that I would read some gluck to go to sleep by, have my nap, get up and get some coffee,plant the book on the kitchen table, and read there from "Memoirs"! Lately, it has taken me almost two weeks to read even the lightest of fare, only because I can't read and sleep at the same time.But with this book, I have sailed through it in about a week. The only reason it took that long, was because, as with any really good book, there are moments you stop and savor.Turns of phrase, and metaphors that make you catch your breath with their beauty. Vivid details that trigger your own memories, that send your mind reeling into another time, another place,and you can't help but go with it, only to come back to yourself sometime later with a sigh. For those of us who do this funny thing called reading, rather than just running out to the theater to see the movie, this is another soon-to-be-classic, which will outstrip the film production of it, simply because the translation of the printed word to the theatrical always suffers.Unfortunately, those who only see the movie will never know what they are missing by not reading the book first, because there are some things they simply cannot do on screen to match the printed page.

I have tried and tried to come up with just one example of a passage, of which I speak, but I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to choose just one,only because there are so many of value. Therefore, I leave it to you, dear reader, to get the book yourself, and see what I mean on your own. There is something in this book for everyone who enjoys great literature.

Oh, by the way. This may not be what one considers a proper book review, but that's what I am calling it. My rules! I make them up!

L.Well, we knew he was dead, it's finished he said, and we watched as his life ebbed awa......y

S. The we all stood around, till the guards took him down-Joseph begged for his body on that da....y

L.It was late afternoon, when we got to the tomb, wrapped his body, and sealed up the gra....ve

S.Though I know how you feel, his death was so real, but please listen and hear what I sa....y

Both: I've just seen Jesus! I tell you he's alive! I've just seen Jesus, our precious Lord's alive! And I know he really saw me too! As it feels now, I never lived, all that I've done before, won't matter anymore, I've just seen Jesus, and I'll never be the same again!

L. It was his voice that she first heard, those kind gentle words, asking, what was her reason for tears.

S. And I sobbed in dispare, my Lord is not there.

L.He whispered child, it is I. I am He!

Both: I 've just seen Jesus! I tell you he's alive! I've just seen Jesus! Our blessed Lord is alive, and I know he really saw me too!

It was, It wasn't just feeling now, I felt at ease, all that I've done before, won't matter anymore, for -

I've just seen Jesus- S.I've just seen Jesus! L. I've just seen Jesus!

And though I've never died before, it won't matter anymore, I've just seen Jesus and I'll never be the same again!!

I have hesitated doing this blog, because I don't want to sound like I am bragging.On the other hand, if I say nothing,considering how Pro-Christmas I am, everyone will assume that things went badly, and think I might even be suffering from depression.Many people do, at this time of year, for some incomprehensible reason. But, I am not one of them.To begin with, Yon son and I decorated from stem to stern! We put a nice medium sized tree in the living room, with about 600 lights on it, as well as other do-dads, under which we piled beautifully wrapped packages to each other, and our family and friends. We put a humungous red bow on the front door, and a wreath on the back(Kitchen) door, and in the kitchen window next to the back door, we put another wreath with three hundred lights wrapped around it! All the lights blink and twinkle so merrily, you can't help but smile when you see them.Also, on top of the tree, we have a huge star, which changes color every few seconds, slowly merging from red to blue to purple and god only knows what colors! We also have another tiny tree in the kitchen with about 300 lights on it.Both the kitchen table and the dinning room table started out with simple candles and a nice centerpiece. We have a nativity scene on the dinning room table, and clustered around it are candles and all sorts of other pretty stuff, on a lovely lavender tablecloth.In the kitchen, we put a colorful toy soldier patterned cloth, with a basket of holly and flanked on either side by pink votive candles, and dusty rose place mats.(both tablecloths have weights at each of the four corners, so that if I should rub against the cloth with my chair as I go by, everything placed on the table won't go flying.) That was our decorating scheme, simple, yet festive for the occasion, and functional.That is the way it started out, but it certainly didn't stay that way.Yon son has this...fixation.He believes, that as soon as the season is officially opened, it is time to start shopping, and therein lies the problem.No, not the shopping. He's a great shopper. He picks wonderful, beautiful endearing presents for me, and others, but once he has them in his possession, he can't stand it.He barely gets them in the house, wrapped or not, and he wants to give them to me.It all started with the Harlequin.I have a small, exquisite harlequin mask hanging on my bedroom wall, he knows of which I am very fond. So, when one of his co-workers happened to bring a little harlequin music box to work one day, he made such a fuss over it, she finally gave it to him to give to me.I think some money changed hands, but he won't say.I was so pleased by this thing, with it's silly drunken list to one side of the white satin pillow upon which it rests, and all the ruffles and lace and gold and white satin pants and lace top and puffy sleeves, and a top-knot with a white feather for hair...I mean, how could I not be captivated by it, particularly since you wind it up,and it plays the theme from " love story", and the whole thing slowly goes around? I now know that he was shopping nearly every day to find me yet another harlequin music box, but bigger and better and more ornate, which also played the same tune.But, somewhere along the way, he lost sight of his original goal, and taking into account all the things I saw in the sale papers, little by little, the centers of both tables have filled up with " early Christmas presents". A lacquered copper bowl, shaped like a bucket, filled with scented pine cones and little jack-be-nimbles(so fragrant!) and just the right touch of glitter. A cute stuffed snowman, with arms full of packages.A bouquet of fresh cut flowers, with white mums, red and pink baby carnations, with pine sprigs and tons of baby's breath...and sans the ugly spotted lillies one usually can't avoid getting, if they purchase a handful of flowers at any upscale grocery store.It was my delight to spend a few moments arranging them in a vase, and he even hunted up a big white bow to put on the teal vase.Next came two poinsettias, one white, one red, in bloom( and still not fading), and two knit stockings, one each, of the kind that can't be overfilled...they just keep expanding downward! Then, of course, came candy, to fill the stockings and bowls with, a dizzying array that only begins with starlight mints and butterscotch disks, starburst fruit chews, and let's not forget the chocolate truffles! Then he brings home a nice sized black sequined bag, to replace my falling apart straw bag I used to use for my meds, which hung on the back handle of my wheelchair.On the left.The right is where I hang my purse. I hesitated to use it for that purpose, because I told him, it's too attractive to be used just for my medicine bag.It sat for three days, and then I switched all my meds into it, and threw that old straw horror on a back shelf.Just in case. Well, now with the tables all fairly well filled up, son decided it was time to decorate me.He brought me a new pink and gold and white and whatever else is bright, caftan.I love it, but I don't want to wear it every day.So, he goes out and finds me a nice top, also pink and gold and bright, but with a slightly different pattern. I love it too, but sometimes, you just want to relax and wear your old stuff, instead of worrying about spoiling the new things.So, my M.O. is to wear it one or two times,and then put it away for special occasions.Then he brings me bright pink feathered slippers! Now he's getting somewhere! I would wear those things to bed if I thought I wouldn't ruin them in doing so! However, there is a problem. Everywhere I go in the house, I seem to be leaving a trail of little pink wisps, so I threw my old white fuzzy slippers in the laundry as it was being lugged out the door one day, and I trade off, so I don't turn the whole house into a pink feathered nest before Christmas is over.Now apparently content that my body and tables are covered, son begins to bring me jewelry.Pink crystal earrings. Jingle-bell bracelets.Stop! I tell him. From now on, wrap it up and leave it under the tree! I want to have something to open Christmas morning! He agrees very nicely, then goes out and does precisely what he wants.The very next day he brought me another decoration, the mistletoe ball, which we hung on the pull cord for the ceiling fan in the kitchen, actually attaching it to the small blue crystal, which I have decided should be the only ornament on that cord, since two seems to turn into twenty at the drop of a hat...but what the heck...it's Christmas! Right? The next thing I know, I am saying again, now, no more.And in the next few moments, after I mention that I am going to take a bath, here he is, going into his room, and returning with a bottle of my favorite foaming moisturizing bath creme! I go, " Oh! Honey!..." But what could I say? Just.." I should scold you for this!" And after a minute..."Consider yourself scolded!"

Well, somehow we made it to Christmas, and lo, there were packages under the tree, and I gave him his boxed gift fragrance set, after shave and cologne, and a colorful shirt,and as a surprise for Christmas, his wife was home for once, and they exchanged their presents,and then, nothing would do but I had to open my gifts.1. an elegant small sequined bag with a beaded handle, satin lined, with each large round sequin hanging off a loop of jet beads! Wow.2. a freeze dried arrangement of red roses and wood fern, plum fern and queen Ann's lace and edelweiss, on a solid wood base, with a sealed glass dome over all, and atop the arrangement is a white angel statue.It is over a foot tall and very heavy, and it took both hands to pull it out of the gift bag.It was all I could do to get both hands around it! 3. A pink and white stuffed unicorn...with wings! So cute! Soft.Plush and cuddly. 4.Two pink crystal roses on a silver stem, with silver leaves, on a crystal base,about five inches tall.They match the pink earrings.5.a CD of Christmas favorites, most of them by the original artists, such as Der Bingel, Rosemary Clooney, and Gene Autry. 6. DVDS of TROY, and Bewitched, the complete second season.7.VHS of the Divine secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.8+9. We gave ourselves a new computer game, REEL DEAL slots, bonus mania, which, even though he put in for and was denied Christmas eve off, he was told to go home, with his radio and his car,and we spent the evening together,which I figure counts as two presents, because it was actually what I wanted the most, a chance to spend time together, having fun.That brings us up to (ten) 10.The most Big, beautiful, ostentatious, fabulously rendered Harlequin music box I have ever seen. It is fully three times the size of the white one, and this one is purple satin, with black voile full ruffles complete with glittering gold dots all over the black see through ruffle and sleeves.It has porcelain face, hand painted, and the hands are also porcelain.It has the classic floppy three pointed hat and it is situated in a purple drum, lined with a gold rim,and when the music plays, not only does it drown out the other music box, but the figure moves. Not the drum. The figure twists and turns as though looking around for his love.

After we opened our gifts, we had carry-out ham, egg, and cheese croissants, that were warm and tender, and hot coffee, and tangerines which a customer had given yon son that morning, picked the night before off a tree in California.Then we had Church, and it was such a blessing!...I am not sure what anybody else was doing, but I was shouting glory for two hours! Then, after a nice long nap, we arose, baked two pumpkin pies, and stuffing, both homemade, which came out perfect. Roasted a Turkey breast, and sang as we peeled potatoes and heated up sweet potatoes, green beans and creamed corn, and dinner rolls, toasted the Lord and our provider with virgin egg nog, and feasted rather than ate.

In short...(TOO LATE!)...we had a stellar Christmas ! I hope yours was just as wonderful as ours was!

Oh, by the way,just because Christmas is over for everyone else,doesn't mean mine is. Yon son is still at it.Monday night, he brought me two little white fruit cakes, which I have discovered I really like, and then last night a lovely tea set with cups, a cookie jar, green tea and butter cookies.Tonight, it was one of those electric globes, where lightening flies from your fingers if you touch the face? It is also sound activated, so you get a light show with music, or even in response to your voice.It has occured to me to search his back or his shoulder to find the button I have to push to turn off the shop til you drop mode...but I have to admit, I haven't really looked.

I wrote a blog just a few days ago, on how some big churches had decided to not have Sunday services Christmas day. Well! Lo, and behold, last night a local newscast did a follow-up story on how some area churches chose to NOT go along with this questionable trend, and held services anyway! Now, I am not saying that my lone little blog had anything to do with this, shall we say, blessed turn of events, yet it certainly did leave me with a strong sense of satisfaction.I know the word got out, because there was quite a buzz going on, on my stats sheet,so somebody read it. In fact, a number of somebodies read it.And, it is anybodies guess as to whether my words had a part in influencing a change of heart.All I know is what I wrote might have had a hand in it, and if that is what happened, all I can say is praise God.Or, It just might be, that since we all serve the same God...Christians, that is, and the Holy spirit is the one who leads me, and it's all the same spirit we follow, then mine wasn't the only heart he spoke to,which is probably more the case.Or, perhaps, one of those mugwumps who were sitting on the fence about whether or not to have services, saw the same story I saw, and didn't like the sound of it any better than I did, and the Holy spirit got ahold of them, got them under conviction, and shoved them to the right side of the fence. Whatever the case, the ultimate stories ending is the same.Several people had an opportunity to go to Church Sunday morning, and those who found a place to go were interviewed on camera, surrounded by other believers, with their babies by their sides, big tears of joy in their eyes, saying what a blessing it was to have found a church where they could go on the Highest Holy day of the year, and weren't they lucky! And then, as though to rub it in, or laugh up their sleeve at the slackers, the news crew not only listed every church in the area that had services, with snowy shots of the exterior of the churches, but went on to interview the Pastors, and Preachers who did hold services! Ha-ha!

This is an absolute, dyed in the wool,bonifide outrage! I have heard and even been witness to some pretty low-life tasteless things going on in the Christian Church lately, but this one beats them all! Here we have the enormous good fortune to have one of the most important Holy days of the entire year to fall on Sunday, our normal day of worship, and what do these ignoramuses do? They cancel services for that day! When I first heard about this on television I did a double take thinking they had to be making a silly joke, but NO! Because they went on to interview some of the pastors and priests involved ,and their reasoning was just as muddled as someone who is putting together some sort of show! "Once, a few years back this happened before, and almost no one showed up for services! So few came, it made it almost pointless to be there! " Well, that is hardly the point, is it? Even if your people don't care enough to come to church to celebrate this miraculous Holy birth, whomsoever is there, is there for the right reason, and deserves to hear the most anointed preaching they ever heard, with plenty of reason to shout the praises of Almighty God! This is church, Not show business! These so-called spiritual leaders should have prepared the hearts and minds of their flock to receive Jesus at his birth on Christmas day, not bowed to the whims of the lay-abouts who want to slop around in their pajamas on Christmas morning, up to their arm-pits in torn wrapping paper, while the children run amuk, getting a head-start on breaking all their new toys and playing with the empty boxes! What are these "men-of-the-cloth" doing for the Lord if they can't lead their people any better than that? I may not be the smartest person on the planet, but this one thing I know.This idiotic decision was not a result of prayer and supplication, weeping between the porch and the closet, seeking the Lord.This was from and of the flesh, where supposed leaders threw up their hands and capitulated to popular opinion, walking by sight and not by faith.Also, there are those of us who have no family, no other place to go on Christmas,and the one place they can go now is denied them. In addition,These leaders have now made it clear that they are not interested in feeding Christ's sheep, spiritually speaking, they are only interested in numbers. Butts in the seats, and big dollars in the collection plate.Shameful. Just Shameful. In addition, if the Church is closed on Christmas Sunday, then It just might as well remain closed the rest of the year, for all the good they have undone with this one stupid, rash action. I, on the other hand, am happy and pleased to say that my church will have services Sunday morning, and I am SOOO looking forward to it! There will be rejoicing and worshiping and praising God, and singing in Thanksgiving, and Hallelujahs rolling all over that place as the fire falls and the presence of God fills us up, and some of the best, most exciting preaching that anybody ever heard,and it won't matter one little bit if there are only two there, or two hundred, or two thousand. I will be there, the preacher and singers will be there, a very tired Yon son will be there after having worked all night Christmas eve, and you know don't you, "that if two or more are there gathered in my name, there I will be among you"...and that is what it is all about!

And as for these nitwits who are taking Christmas day off...I am sure the Lord will deal with them as they deserve...eventually, unless they repent.

I've had a series of disappointments lately.I have also had some interesting nice things come to me. Being a Mature individual, I know that such is life.As I sat reading this evening, my thoughts strayed to something I rarely allow myself to do...mentally listing these occurrences, randomly. I wasn't even counting how much good and how much bad, just considering them and wondering at the strange mixture,and thinking that even the disappointments may turn into blessings, in time.From somewhere the thought came that whatever happens has nothing to do with what happens to me: it is the way I choose to respond to things that makes the difference. It tells me where I am in my walk with the Lord, and helps me to see just how" Mature" I am, really. After all, Maturity is not a number..age doesn't have anything to do with one's ability to deal with the vicissitudes of life.We all know older people who, no matter their age, will never be grown-ups, and yet there are some very young persons who are mature at a very tender age. I generally keep my own counsel.However, I know Seniors who will run to someone else for advice when the slightest thing shakes their little world. All of this and more went through my head as I sat there, and then my bird clock sounded off,and I knew it was time to run my blood sugar,and have my evening snack and pills, and while doing this, I clicked on to watch the news,and Jay Leno. His guest tonight was Terry Bradshaw,and I could tell by Jay's monologue that they had a typical, witty guy friendship, filled with jabs and banter. This impression was confirmed when Terry actually appeared,and the repartee started. Such jokes at each others expense could only be tolerated if you really know and like one another. And even then, only if you're a guy. Most women I know would not tolerate that sort of thing for one minute.But through it all, they smiled and laughed,even while Terry was going on about the terrible "luck" he's experienced lately.He was buying an airplane,and the deal fell through.At about the same time, he was buying a house, and that deal fell through as well.Then, he got word that his house down in Texas burned down...and all of this terrible news came to him through the same person.Fortunately, it wasn't Mr.Bradshaw's only house, which up to then I am thinking, why are they both laughing over all this?But then, Jay made it clear, in his teasing Terry about all these disappointments, that he has no money worries. It all sounded so heartless up to that point, but then it dawned on me that people, such as Jay Leno and Terry Bradshaw, who have a lot of funds, don't take such things seriously. This may sound odd, but their behavior helped me tremendously.See, earlier this month, I received notice that my cost-of-living-increase in January would be greater than I had hoped.I was very pleased, because I run at a shortfall from one month to the next as a rule,and there are many creature comforts I must fore-go because of it. For example, choosing a lower grade of tissue than I would normally use...like the difference between what I call the good stuff,and slabs of wood.Viva and Charmin are the good stuff..anything else is what I call slabs of wood, but only because I have very dry, sensitive skin.So, anyway, with visions of Charmin and Viva dancing in my head, I opened the mail yesterday, after a perfectly dreadful day all by itself, and got another love-letter from the gas and light company that my budget payment was going up...and the extra income is going to be completely eaten up by the new "Budget". Like, dollar for dollar. What a let-down.But, praise the Lord, at least I got the cost-of-living-increase! Were it not for that, I am not sure what I would be doing to adjust to the new budget, I just would. And, just how, you ask, did Terry Bradshaw's attitude help me? Well, think about it. I don't have his kind of money, but I serve a great big God, who owns all the money in the world, so what have I got worry about? He will supply all my needs according to his riches in glory, and I stand on that promise! I don't have any troubles. All I need is faith in God!

1. While decorating we may try several different ways to display our wreaths and bows and lights, and even alternate places for the trees, but the nativity scenes always seem to find the same places of honor, year after year!

2.While wrapping gifts, we sing and are taken over by a spirit of silly hi-jinks, and we laugh and giggle far into the night,but the end product is always so beautiful under the tree!

3. When we tire of the normal decorations for boxes, we end up taping candy canes and pretty wrapped chocolates on the packages...but sometimes, we lose all decorum,andend up opening one or two of those "SANTA EDWIGES" 1.16 OZ. CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES, to share between us ourselves. After all. We can't in good conscience give something to someone else, unless we know that it is good, now can we? And, OH! Talk about good! The Cherry Truffles are so Yummy! If you like chocolate covered cherries, then these Truffles, which come one to a box, and are huge, will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. You will feel as though you just ate a whole box, after just one bite! hehe!

When you write from the heart, as do I, then it is often times with a sense of foreboding that one hits those buttons to publish the piece,sending bits of your life out into the eatherwaves for others to read.Particularly when I proofread everything time after time, all the way through. I try very hard to be right upfront, and not post just emotional garbage...which is why I generally say I'm sorry when I get off on a rant.You will never know how many times I have done that, and had to delete whole paragraphs because I have gone way, WAY off the subject.That is why sometimes it takes me a while to publish a post for the day. I may have worked on it for several hours,or even a couple of days. So, it is with a strong sense of satisfaction that I receive a comment! Even more importantly, when the comment shows me that what I wrote touched the reader,that I evoked in them an equally deep emotion. A moment shared.Or even brought back to them a troublesome memory,but it was important enough for them to give a thoughtful response.These are awards of brass and gold.Precious, because in my own way, I have told this person that they are not alone in this condition,and when they respond, well, a burden shared is lighter.They have given me a gift, freely, unsolicited, and many times, wholeheartedly.It is upon those occasions, I know what it feels like to get an Oscar,an Emmy, or a Dove award. I know, that sounds a bit extreme to someone whose whole purpose of blogging on the Internet is to shock as many readers as possible, but for those of us who take our writing seriously, it is true.So, when I get a comment like that, invariably, I think, I should say something. When he or she comes back with a few well chosen words,letting me know they have had such a harsh or painful or touching experience in their own lives, I cannot just say,"there, there, poor thing" and let it go at that.It's not that I wouldn't mean it, but is sounds so trite and pitiful,and pat, that that phrase could not possibly convey the real depth of my sympathy for their feelings,unless we were face to face,and I could put my arms around them and hug them at the same time. Yeah, now you know.I'm a hugger.So, for each and everyone of you who have left me such a comment, consider yourself hugged! And "There there, poor thing-ed!"